Adelphia Trial Tests Family Loyalty

Rigas Clan Has Avoided
Finger-Pointing So Far
In Financial Fraud Case

By

Peter Grant Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated March 1, 2004 11:59 p.m. ET

In the halcyon years of Adelphia Communications Corp., the founding and controlling Rigas family had a reputation for being insular, secretive and fiercely loyal. Now that loyalty is being put to the ultimate test as opening statements begin Monday in the criminal trial of John Rigas, the family patriarch, two of his sons, and a former Adelphia executive.

To save themselves, a natural strategy would be for the family members to point the finger at each other. In particular, it would make sense for John Rigas, the chief...